This Greek pasta salad is loaded with veggies, kalamata olives, tangy feta cheese, all of which is tossed in a homemade Greek dressing. It’s the perfect side dish for all your summer parties and can be prepared well in advance of any get-together!
Greek Pasta Salad
Summer is here and pasta salads are a perfect dish to make for all your summer cookouts or picnics. This Greek pasta salad is fresh, light, and flavorful. It has all the flavor of your favorite Greek Salad, combined with the comfort of a savory pasta dish. This recipe is a great addition to any Fourth of July weekend celebrations.
Prep This Salad Ahead Of Time
The best part about this Greek pasta salad is you can prep it ahead of time. I think the flavors meld better the longer it sits and marinates.
Ingredients
Pasta salads are flexible, versatile, and easy to throw together. You can substitute, add, or omit any ingredients you prefer. Here are the ingredients that I put in my Greek pasta salad recipe:
- Pasta- I used rotini because the nooks and crannies trap the dressing, but you can make this with any short-shaped pasta.
- Veggies- I used cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, and onions.
- Olives- kalamata olives add a nice salty flavor. You can substitute your favorite olive, or omit completely.
- Feta cheese- adds a nice tangy taste to the salad. I use crumbled feta, but you can buy a block and cube it into pieces or crumble it yourself.
- Greek dressing- I use my homemade Greek dressing for this recipe (see below).
- Parsley- fresh parsley adds a burst of freshness. You could even add fresh basil or dill.
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The Perfect Greek Dressing
A simple Greek dressing pulls all the ingredients together into a delicious and flavorful salad. While you could opt for your favorite store-bought dressing, I use my homemade Greek dressing recipe . It’s so simple to throw together and is worth making.
Soaking The Onions
Red onions are a complimentary accompaniment to any meal, but their punchy bite can overpower a dish. I used to soak the onion in vinegar, which works well, but discovered that ice water baths work even better. I encourage you to try the ice water technique to tame the raw red onion and let me know in the comments what you think!
Additions And Variations
- Swap the pasta for gluten free pasta or a chickpea or other bean-based pasta. You can even swap the pasta for tortellini.
- Make it a meal and add your favorite protein- grilled chicken, shrimp, steak, or beans
- Throw in other veggies like artichokes, pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or grilled/roasted zucchini or eggplant.
- Make it vegan by omitting the feta cheese
More Delicious Sides To Make This Summer:
- Sweet Potato Salad
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Black Bean Corn Salad
- Chickpea Salad With Cucumbers & Tomatoes
- Grilled Zucchini Corn Salad
- Tomato Panzanella Salad
Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb short Pasta- rotini penne, bow ties
- 1 pint grape tomatoes quartered
- 2 cups English or Persian cucumbers sliced and quartered
- 1 orange bell pepper diced
- ½ small red onion diced
- ½ cup kalamata olives pitted and sliced in half
- ½ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ½ cup feta crumbled
Greek Dressing
- ¾ Cup Extra Virgin Olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 6 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoon dried basil
- ¾ Tablespoon Oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta to al dente according to package instructions. When cooked to al dente, drain the pasta, and run under cold water to cool completely. Set aside.
- While the pasta is boiling prep/chop all the ingredients (tomatoes-parsley) and place in a large bowl.
- In a small blender, add all the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth. Set aside.
- To the large bowl of chopped vegetables add the cooked pasta, feta cheese, and the dressing. Stir until well combined. Add more or less of any ingredient to your liking.
Nutrition Facts
233 Calories, 16 gram fat, 4 gram protein, 18 gram total carbohydrate, 3 grams of fiber, 3 gram sugar, 175 mg sodium Notes
• You can add more or less of any ingredient to your liking or omit an ingredient.
• Swap the pasta for gluten free pasta or a chickpea or other bean-based pasta. You can even swap the pasta for tortellini.
• Make it a meal and add your favorite protein- grilled chicken, shrimp, steak, or beans
• Throw in other veggies like artichokes, pepperoncini, or grilled/roasted zucchini or eggplant.
• Make it vegan by omitting the feta cheese
What’s your favorite recipe to make for summer cookouts? Share in the comments below and share if you make this recipe. Also, be sure to stay in touch and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest
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